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Do you ever use the right-side command/option/control/shift keys?

Doctor Q

Doctor Q

Administrator
Original poster
Staff member
Sep 19, 2002
40,375
9,130
Los Angeles
I'm right-handed. My mouse is on the right side of my keyboard. I use the command key, option key, control key, and shift key on the left side of my keyboard. In all the years I've owned Macs, I think I have yet to press the right-side command, option, control, or shift key.

Is it the same for you?

(For left-handed Mac users who use the mouse on the left, my question applies to the left-side keys instead.)
 
Never.

Interesting... Will try to use them more if I can, just so they don't feel lonely. ;)
 
I am ambidextrous so, yes, I use both. My preference is to be left handed, so I have my computer set for a left handed individual. We, my wife and I, have a mouse and a tablet. My wife is right handed and has preference towards the tablet so that is own the right but sometimes after she is done using the computer, she has rearranged things to suit her. Typically I will put things back but sometimes I just sit and use as is.

I also have an odd tendency to cross my arms... right hand on mouse on left side, left hand on keyboard on right side. This situation usually comes after a long session or I just fell tired so it might have a lot to do with fatigue.

In lab situations I use my right hand for the mouse and left hand for the keyboard. I prefer, if possible to do as much as I can with the keyboard, keeps me sane, I also favor single button mice. :)
 
I used to in FPS games.

Back then I used the arrow-keys to move around using my left hand (mouse in right hand for mouse-looking). To crouch orso I used the CTRL-key next to the arrow-keys which is the right CTRL-key. :)
Nowadays I use the more default WSDA-keys for moving, and no more rightside CTRL-key.

Fun thread this.
 
I used the right option key to supplement for the spacebar on one of my keyboards for a while. Bah. Otherwise, rarely do I use the other two.
 
I tend to use the left side more that the left because my right hand is always on the mouse and I use the left side more because the commands that I use most often are on that side, command+A, C, V, Q, etc. But when I need to use command+o or command+i I will always push the right side command button.

When playing games I use the right side a lot too.

And I use the right side more when the mouse is in my left hand.
 
I regularly use the command key on the right side of the keyboard, but only for a couple of purposes.

When I hit command-P, I always use the thumb and middle finger of my right hand, and therefore use the command key on the right side. I also use my right hand for iTunes play/pause, which I have set up as command-space.
 
I regularly use the right command key to hit command-back or forward, so that I can go back and forth through pages in Safari. My shift key looks oddly dirty, but I don't know when I press it. Hm.
–Chase
 
I use the Command + Backspace combo to send files into the trash. If I were to do this using the left hand command key I would need to use the other hand to get backspace, so I do it with the right hand command.
 
I use the right shift key all the time. In fact, I've already used it a couple times in this post.

As for command, option, and control, I almost always use the left keys. I think I have used the right command key twice, and the others never.
 
edesignuk said:
Nope, never...

These type of threads are why we should be allowed polls ;) :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yeah, but then when we do submit an idea for a poll, we usually end up contacting the front desk about it...

aboutpic_2_poll.jpg
 
Yes, I do. To create a new tab for this thread, I Command-Clicked on the link, using the right key. If my PowerBook's keyboard had an option key and a control key, I'd use those too.
 
Doctor Q said:
I'm right-handed. My mouse is on the right side of my keyboard. I use the command key, option key, control key, and shift key on the left side of my keyboard. In all the years I've owned Macs, I think I have yet to press the right-side command, option, control, or shift key.

Is it the same for you?

(For left-handed Mac users who use the mouse on the left, my question applies to the left-side keys instead.)
Click to expand...

Kudos Doctor Q, what a great thought. I have my setup just the same, I'm right handed also. Also use those keys on the left, just always seemed like the automatic thing.

I just wonder what the psychological reason is behind this preference of ours? :D
 
Cmd-P
Cmd-O
Cmd-K (Finder connect to server)
Cmd-I (usually for profiles in Adium)
etc...

I use the Cmd key on the right side a lot since I usually keep both hands on the keyboard. Though I have my logitech trackball on the right side, I prefer to do as much as I can from the keyboard, since I find I work faster that way. And if it matters, I don't have an option or control key on the right side of my iBook. On the bottom row, from left to right it goes:
fn, ctrl, alt/option/, cmd, space bar, cmd, enter, arrows

I remember the G3 PowerBooks that didn't even have a command key on the right side. That used to drive me insane.
 
Hmmm... I just realized that I never used Command key on the right. I use right Shift key all the time of course. So, my left hand is ready on the Command/Option/Ctrl/Fn key and my right hand is always ready for Esc.(weird position)/trackpad/or whatever. I don't and will never use a mouse :D, I just love Powerbook's trackpad too much.

I always get Fn and Ctrl key confused though.... hmmm.....
 
Very interesting. But to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I ever realized there was Control and Option key on the right :eek: Well maybe I did subconsicousily (sp?). But I use the right Command key when I have to key a shortcut that is on the right side of they keyboard with one hand (like a "K" or ";").
 
After reading some more of these replies I realized that I do actually use the right command key.

I use it for CMD+I (get info in finder) and CMD-P (print). I just never really thought about it before this thread.
 
Well, my TiBook doesn't have a right-hand command key. It has the "enter" key where the command key should be, and I use it -- well, when I need the "enter" command, such as to insert a page break in Quark.

I use the right-handed shift key all the time--whenever I need to type a capital letter that's typed with my left hand, such as "A", or "Q".

However, the key I use most is the right handed option key, which I use in combination with the arrow keys to do page-ups and page-downs in Safari.

fn and ctrl are only available left-handed on my computer.
 
wdlove said:
Kudos Doctor Q, what a great thought. I have my setup just the same, I'm right handed also. Also use those keys on the left, just always seemed like the automatic thing.

I just wonder what the psychological reason is behind this preference of ours? :D
Click to expand...

Same here. But it's really easy to figure out... :D Your arms are shoulder width apart which means that in order for you to press the right buttons your left arm would have to turn inwards, which just feels more awkward than just having it aligned straight. The left keys are just closer to you. Easy as that.
 
TMA said:
I use the Command + Backspace combo to send files into the trash. If I were to do this using the left hand command key I would need to use the other hand to get backspace, so I do it with the right hand command.
Click to expand...

I use this one + command+backspace+shift to empty the trash...
 
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